Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and her departmental staff for coming here today to discuss this all-important topic. I listened to her explanation of what the Bill is about, which is transparency and bringing information together to ensure ease of access to patient records and to make sure that, for example, my records are not mixed up with Senator Costello's records or those of anybody else. The Bill is really important in terms of sharing those records but also in providing the information.

I saw a reference to prescriptions. Will there be a link with pharmacies? The Minister has encouraged greater transparency and working arrangements between pharmacies, GPs and hospitals. That is really important because many of us go to our pharmacy with minor ailments.Sometimes they can be very important when it comes to looking at medical records. When people go in for a procedure or operation, it is important that the consultant or whoever they see knows as much about their patients as possible. This legislation has a really important role to play in relation to that.

From reading through the Bill, it is about the consultant and the medical team knowing more about the patient so that they can assess them in a more transparent and proper manner. It will be easier for the person who is diagnosing or working with a patient if they have all their information in front of them.

It is disappointing to hear that there is a private hospital not willing to share its information, given that I might end up in a public hospital today and in a private hospital another day. It is very important that there should be more sharing of that information. It is about patients' health, safe access and making sure that they have a safe stay. If the consultant or whoever is looking after a patient at the time does not have all that information in front of them, as a layperson, I expect that would impede the accuracy of diagnosis for a patient in hospital.

I hope that all hospitals come on board in terms of sharing their resources with any of the medical people we deal with, from the GP to the pharmacist, or even the dentist so that all the information is input into the one place. I also welcome the fact that the patient has access to their own information. I remember looking at my record when I was in hospital and I did not have a clue what was going on. We take the word of the doctor or the consultant. I do not say that they do not know what they are talking about but it is important for a patient to look at their own record. Overall, I recommend this Bill and support it. I thank the Minister and her Department for bringing it forward. I look forward to working with her in the future on the delivery of the Bill.